Handheld controller with spring-biased third finger button assembly

ABSTRACT

A handheld controller with spring-biased third-finger button grip detection is disclosed. The handheld controller can include a third-finger button on the handle and having a lever arm pivotally connected to the controller&#39;s main body so the third-finger button is movable between depressed position and released positions. A button-biasing member is pivotally connected to another portion of the main body and has a second lever arm that presses against the first lever arm to bias the third-finger button toward the released, extended position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/273,431, filed Dec. 30, 2015, entitled “Handheld Controller withSpring-Biased Third Finger Button Assembly” which is incorporated in itsentirety by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application is directed to handheld controllers and, morespecifically, to virtual reality handheld controllers.

BACKGROUND

In a virtual reality system, a user wears a head-mounted display thatpresents a selected virtual reality (VR) environment in front of theuser's eyes. In some VR systems, a user can manipulate items in thevirtual environment with handheld controllers. The controllers includetracking patterns comprised of a pattern of lights, for example. Thesystem monitors the movement of the tracking patterns with a trackingcamera and reproduces the user's hand movements in the virtualenvironment. However, buttons traditionally used on game controllers,for example, do not typically detect detailed hand movements. Forexample, individual finger movements and gestures, as well as opened orclosed hand movements, are not captured with traditional buttonconfigurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the handheld controller with finger grip detectionintroduced herein may be better understood by referring to the followingDetailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similarelements:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pair of handheld controllers eachincluding finger grip detection according to a representativeembodiment.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a user's right hand grasping theright-hand controller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the right-hand controller shown in FIGS.1 and 2 as viewed from the handle.

FIG. 4 is a side view and elevation with various components hidden toshow a finger button mounting arrangement.

FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of the handheld controller with variouscomponents hidden to show a finger button mounting arrangement.

FIG. 6A is an isometric view of a handheld controller of an alternateembodiment with several features not shown for illustration purposes.

FIG. 6B is an enlarged isometric view of the handheld controller of FIG.6A.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the handheld controller of FIG. 5 asviewed from above with various components hidden to show the fingerbutton position sensor.

FIG. 8 is a front view in elevation of a handheld controller includinggrip detection according to another representative embodiment.

The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do notnecessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed embodiments.Further, the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Forexample, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may beexpanded or reduced to help improve the understanding of theembodiments. Moreover, while the disclosed technology is amenable tovarious modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments havebeen shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detailbelow. The intention, however, is not to limit the embodimentsdescribed. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope ofthe embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

A handheld controller with spring-biased third-finger button gripdetection is disclosed. In an embodiment, the handheld controllerincludes a third-finger button on the handle. The third-finger buttonhas a lever arm pivotally connected to the controller's main body so thethird-finger button is movable between depressed position and releasedpositions. A button-biasing member is pivotally connected to anotherportion of the main body and has a second lever arm that presses againstthe first lever arm to bias the third-finger button toward the released,extended position.

In at least one embodiment in accordance with current technology, ahandheld controller comprising a main body, a handle extending from themain body, and a trigger button positioned on the main body or firstportion of the handle. A third-finger button assembly is positioned on asecond portion of the handle. The third-finger button assembly has afinger-engaging button and a first lever arm pivotally movable relativeto the handle between a depressed position and a released, extendedposition. A button-biasing member is pivotally coupled to the main bodyand has a second lever arm engaging the first lever arm. Thebutton-biasing member urges the finger-engaging button toward thereleased, extended position.

Another embodiment provides a handheld controller comprising a mainbody, a handle extending from the main body, and a trigger buttonpositioned on the main body or first portion of the handle. Athird-finger button is positioned on a second portion of the handle andhas a lever arm pivotally connected to the main body. The third fingerbutton is movable relative to the handle between a depressed positionand a released, extended position. A button-biasing member is pivotallycoupled to the main body at a first portion positioned away from thelever arm. The button-biasing member has a second portion engaging thelever arm, and the button-biasing member urges the third-finger buttontoward the released, extended position.

Another embodiment of the present technology provides a handheldcontroller comprising a main body, a handle extending from the mainbody, and a trigger button positioned on the main body or first portionof the handle. A third-finger button assembly is positioned on a secondportion of the handle and has a finger-engaging button, and a firstlever arm with a proximal portion connected to the finger-engagingbutton and distal portion pivotally coupled to the main body. Thefinger-engaging button is movable relative to the handle between adepressed position and a released, extended position. The third-fingerbutton assembly has a button-biasing member with a mounting bosspivotally coupled to the main body at a position spaced apart from thedistal portion of the first lever arm. A second lever arm is connectedat a first end to the mounting boss, and a second end is spaced apartfrom the first end. The second end engages the first lever arm at anintermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions, whereinmovement of the finger-engaging button from the released, extendedposition to the depressed position causes the button-biasing member topivot relative to the main body. The button biasing member has a springconnected to the second lever arm and configured to urge the secondlever arm to press against the intermediate portion of the first leverarm to urge the finger-engaging button toward the released, extendedposition.

General Description

Various examples of the devices introduced above will now be describedin further detail. The following description provides specific detailsfor a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples.One skilled in the relevant art will understand, however, that thetechniques discussed herein may be practiced without many of thesedetails. Likewise, one skilled in the relevant art will also understandthat the technology can include many other features not described indetail herein. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions maynot be shown or described in detail below so as to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the relevant description.

The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadestreasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with adetailed description of some specific examples of the embodiments.Indeed, some terms may even be emphasized below; however, anyterminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will beovertly and specifically defined as such in this section.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of handheld controllers 100 according to arepresentative embodiment. The pair of handheld controllers 100 includesa right-hand controller 102 and a left-hand controller 104. The primarystructure of the right-hand controller 102 and the left-hand controller104 when held adjacent to each other in a similar orientation, asillustrated, are substantially symmetric with respect to each other.Both the controllers 102/104 are described herein with respect to theright-hand controller 102, as both controllers include the same orsimilar features, albeit in mirror image. The right-hand controller 102includes a main body 106 and a handle portion 108 extending from themain body 106. In some embodiments, a surrounding ring portion 110extends from the main body 106. The controllers 102/104 can be part of aVR system 10, such as the Rift™ available from Oculus™.

As shown in FIG. 2, the right-hand controller 102 includes a thumbstick112, a trigger button 114 and a third-finger button 116. The main body106 includes a thumb surface 118 from which the thumbstick 112 extends.The main body 106 may also include one or more buttons 120 and 122positioned on the thumb surface 118. In some embodiments, the thumbsurface 118 is a substantially planar surface. The handle portion 108extends from the main body 106 on a side generally opposite the triggerbutton 114. The main body 106 and the handle portion 108 areergonomically contoured such that a user's hand 5 can comfortably graspthe handheld controller 102 as illustrated. When the controller 102 isgrasped, the user's thumb 7 (i.e., the first finger) is comfortablypositionable above the main body 106 with the thumb 7 engaging on thethumbstick 112. The user's second or index finger 9 is positioned on thetrigger button 114. The user's third or middle finger 11 operates thethird-finger button 116. The third-finger button 116 is operative todetect whether the user is grasping the handle portion 108 with his orher third-finger 11. In some embodiments, the third-finger button 116can detect various degrees of deflection corresponding to the force orpressure of a user's grip on the handle portion 108.

In some embodiments, the third-finger button 116 is active depending onthe context of an associated virtual environment or game. In otherembodiments, the third-finger button 116 is activated mechanically or byanother sensor. One embodiment could include a palm sensor (e.g.,analogous to a pistol grip safety or grip switch), such that when thepalm sensor detects the user's hand, and the third-finger button 116 isreleased, an output signal indicates an “open-hand gesture.”

When the third-finger button 116 is depressed, the system registers thatthe user's hand is closed or grasped around the handle portion 108. Whenthe third-finger button 116 is not depressed, the system can indicate anopen hand gesture. The presence of a gesture can be a signal to the VRsystem 10 to initiate a command or to include the gesture in acorresponding apparition or avatar. The third-finger button 116 allows auser to maintain a grip on the handle portion 108 while still being ableto provide hand grip inputs to the VR system. In another embodiment, thethird button on the handle is positioned for engagement by the user'sring or fourth finger or the pinkie or fifth finger, or a combination ofthe third, fourth and/or fifth fingers. In some embodiments, thethumbstick 112, the trigger button 114, the thumb surface 118, and thebuttons 120 and 122 can be configured to detect other hand and fingergestures as explained in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/939,470,titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING HAND GESTURES WITH A HANDHELDCONTROLLER,” filed Nov. 12, 2015, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

With reference to FIG. 3, the handle portion 108 includes a palm side124, which confronts the palm of the user's hand 5, and a finger side126 opposite the palm side 124 and generally confronts the fingers, suchas the third-finger 11, of the user's hand 5. Accordingly, thethird-finger button 116 is disposed on the finger side 126 of the handleportion 108. As shown in FIG. 4, the third-finger button 116 includes anarm 128 rotatably coupled to the main body 106 via a pivot shaft 130extending along an axis A. With further reference to FIG. 5, the pivotshaft 130 is mounted at an angle with respect to the main body 106 inclevis arms 132 and 134 extending from the main body 106. In someembodiments, a torsion spring 136 is positioned about the pivot shaft130 to return the arm 128 to the extended position and to providetactile feedback to the user's third-finger 11 (see FIG. 2) in the formof a resistive force.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the handheld controller 100 of an embodiment thathas a spring-biased third finger button 116 in accordance with anotherembodiment. The third-finger button 116 has a finger-engaging portion111 projecting from the finger side 126 of the handle 108. A proximalend 113 of the arm 128 is connected to the finger-engaging portion 111,and a distal end 115 of the arm 128 is pivotally attached to the mainbody 106 by the pivot shaft 130. The arm 128 has an intermediateengagement portion 117 between the proximal and distal ends 113 and 115.The third-finger button 116 is pivotally movable about the pivot shaft130 between a depressed, activated position and an extended, releasedposition. A button biasing member 119 presses against the intermediateengagement portion 117 of the arm 128 and urges the arm away from thedepressed, activated position and toward the extended, releasedposition.

In the illustrated embodiment, the button biasing member 119 has amounting boss 121 pivotally attached to a portion of the main body 106spaced apart from the distal end 115 of the arm. The mounting boss 121pivots about a pivot pin 123 attached to the main body 106. The buttonbiasing member 119 has a lever arm 125 integrally attached at one end tothe mounting boss 121. The lever arm 125 extends away from the mountingboss 121 and terminates at a free engaging end 127 that presses againstthe intermediate engagement portion 117 of the arm 128. In theillustrated embodiment, the button biasing member 119 pivots about apivot axis that is skewed or non-parallel with the pivot axis of thepivot shaft 130 of the third-finger button 116. In other embodiments,button-biasing member 119 and the third finger button 116 pivot aboutrespective spaced-apart pivot axes that are substantially parallel.

A spring 129 is attached to the mounting boss 121 and provides a biasingforce that pushed the lever arm 125 against the arm 128 of thethird-finger button 116 to bias the third-finger button toward theextended, released position. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring129 is a coil spring carried on the mounting boss 121, and one leg ofthe coil spring is securely connected to the lever arm 125 to hold thelever arm against the intermediate engagement portion 117. In otherembodiments, other spring members can be connected to the lever arm toprovide the urging force against the arm 128. The spring 129 and leverarm 125 arrangement allows for the use of a spring with a firm springforce, while the lengths of lever arm 125 and the arm 128 provide theleveraged mechanical advantage when a user presses the third-fingerbutton toward the depressed activated position. This configurationprovides a smooth, positive control and feel to the third-finger button116 while ensuring for a quick and precise return of the third-fingerbutton to the extended, released position when a user releases thebutton. The off-axis configuration of the button biasing member 119relative to the third-finger button 116 allows for a thinner or smallerprofile at the transition between the handle 108 and the main body 106,while providing enhanced performance and feel for the third-fingerbutton 116.

As shown in FIG. 7, the third-finger button 116 includes a detectionfeature, such as a magnet or other detectable member. In the illustratedembodiment, a magnet 140 is mounted on arm 128. A sensor 142 ispositioned inside the handle adjacent the magnet 140. In someembodiments, the sensor 142 is a Hall effect sensor. A Hall effectsensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response to amagnetic field. Thus, as the magnet 140 moves closer to the sensor 142,the output voltage varies. Accordingly, the third-finger button 116 isan analog button in that it can detect various degrees of deflectioncorresponding to the force of a user's grip on the handle portion 108and output a signal corresponding to movement of the third-finger button116. In some embodiments, the magnet 140 and the Hall effect sensor 142may be replaced by an on/off switch such as a miniature snap-actionswitch, for example. In some embodiments, movement of the third-fingerbutton 116 can be detected with an inductive proximity sensor or othersuitable type of proximity sensor. In some embodiments, the detectionfeature for use with a proximity sensor can be a location (e.g., targetlocation) on the third-finger button 116.

FIG. 8 illustrates a handheld controller 202 according to arepresentative embodiment. The handheld controller 202 comprises a mainbody 206, a trigger button 210 positioned on the main body 206, and ahandle portion 208 extending from the main body 206 on the side oppositethe trigger button 210. The handle portion 208 has a palm side 224 and afinger side 226. A first pressure sensitive sheet or pad 214 ispositioned on the palm side 224 of the handle portion 208 and a secondpressure sensitive sheet or pad 216 is positioned on the finger side226. The pressure sensitive pads 214/216 are operative to detectcompression of the pads caused by a user's fingers and/or palm, therebyregistering the presence and/or strength of a user's grip around thehandle portion 208. In some embodiments, the handle portion 208 onlyincludes one or other of the first and second pressure sensitive pads214/216.

Remarks

The above description and drawings are illustrative and are not to beconstrued as limiting. Numerous specific details are described toprovide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in someinstances, well-known details are not described in order to avoidobscuring the description. Further, various modifications may be madewithout deviating from the scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, theembodiments are not limited except as by the appended claims.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodimentsmutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features aredescribed which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others.Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirementsfor some embodiments but not for other embodiments.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinarymeanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in thespecific context where each term is used. It will be appreciated thatthe same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently,alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of theterms discussed herein, and any special significance is not to be placedupon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonymsfor some terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does notexclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in thisspecification, including examples of any term discussed herein, isillustrative only and is not intended to further limit the scope andmeaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, thedisclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in thisspecification. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientificterms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the caseof conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld controller, comprising: a main body; ahandle extending from the main body; a trigger button positioned on themain body or first portion of the handle; and a third-finger buttonassembly positioned on a second portion of the handle and having afinger-engaging button, a first lever arm pivotally movable relative tothe handle between a depressed position and a released, extendedposition, a button-biasing member pivotally coupled to the main body andhaving a second lever arm engaging the first lever arm, wherein thebutton-biasing member urges the finger-engaging button toward thereleased, extended position.
 2. The handheld controller of claim 1wherein the trigger button is positioned on the main body on a sideopposite the trigger button.
 3. The handheld controller of claim 1wherein the finger-engaging button pivots about a first pivot axis, andthe button biasing member pivots about a second pivot axis spaced apartfrom the first pivot axis.
 4. The handheld controller of claim 3 whereinthe first pivot axis is at a non-parallel orientation relative to thesecond pivot axis.
 5. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein thehandle has a palm side and a finger side, and the finger engaging buttonprojects from a finger side of the handle.
 6. The handheld controller ofclaim 1 wherein the button-biasing member has a mounting boss pivotallymounted to the main body, the second lever arm extending from themounting boss, and a biasing spring connected to the mounting boss orthe second lever arm.
 7. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein thethird-finger button assembly has a first pivot pin connected to thefirst lever arm of the finger-engaging button, and a second pivot pinconnected to the button-biasing member and being skewed relative to thefirst pivot pin.
 8. The handheld controller of claim 1, furthercomprising a surrounding ring portion extending from the main body. 9.The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein the main body includes athumb surface and further comprising a thumbstick extending from thethumb surface.
 10. A handheld controller, comprising: a main body; ahandle extending from the main body; a trigger button positioned on themain body or first portion of the handle; a third-finger buttonpositioned on a second portion of the handle and having a lever armpivotally connected to the main body, the third finger button beingmovable relative to the handle between a depressed position and areleased, extended position; and a button-biasing member pivotallycoupled to the main body at a first portion positioned away from thelever arm, the button-biasing member having a second portion engagingthe lever arm, wherein the button-biasing member urges the third-fingerbutton toward the released, extended position.
 11. The handheldcontroller of claim 10 wherein the lever arm is a first lever arm andhas a third-finger button with a finger engaging surface connected tothe first lever arm, and the button-biasing member has a mounting bosspivotally connected to the main body and a second lever arm extendingfrom the mounting boss and engaging an intermediate portion of the firstlever arm.
 12. The handheld controller of claim 10 wherein thethird-finger button pivots about a first pivot axis, and the buttonbiasing member pivots about a second pivot axis spaced apart from thefirst pivot axis.
 13. The handheld controller of claim 12 wherein thefirst pivot axis is skewed relative to the second pivot axis.
 14. Thehandheld controller of claim 10 wherein the handle has a palm side and afinger side, and the third-finger button projects from a finger side ofthe handle.
 15. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein thebutton-biasing member has spring that urges the button-biasing memberagainst the lever arm.
 16. A handheld controller, comprising: a mainbody; a handle extending from the main body; a trigger button positionedon the main body or first portion of the handle; and a third-fingerbutton assembly positioned on a second portion of the handle and havinga finger-engaging button, a first lever arm having a proximal portionconnected to the finger-engaging button and distal portion pivotallycoupled to the main body, wherein the finger-engaging button is movablerelative to the handle between a depressed position and a released,extended position, the third-finger button assembly having abutton-biasing member with a mounting boss pivotally coupled to the mainbody at a position spaced apart from the distal portion of the firstlever arm, and having a second lever arm connected at a first end to themounting boss and having a second end spaced apart from the first end,the second end engaging the first lever arm at an intermediate portionbetween the proximal and distal portions, wherein movement of thefinger-engaging button from the released, extended position to thedepressed position causes the button-biasing member to pivot relative tothe main body, and the button biasing member having a spring connectedto the second lever arm and urging the second lever arm to press againstthe intermediate portion of the first lever arm to urge thefinger-engaging button toward the released, extended position.
 17. Thehandheld controller of claim 16 wherein the finger-engaging buttonpivots about a first pivot axis, and the button biasing member pivotsabout a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis. 18.The handheld controller of claim 17 wherein the first pivot axis is at anon-parallel orientation relative to the second pivot axis.
 19. Thehandheld controller of claim 16 wherein the handle has a palm side and afinger side, and the finger engaging button projects from a finger sideof the handle.
 20. The handheld controller of claim 16 wherein the mainbody includes a thumb surface and further comprising a thumbstickextending from the thumb surface.